Posts tagged “inner city”

I had to take the past few days to contemplate the outcome of the Zimmerman trial, not just because Trayvon Martin was a black child who was murdered, but because he was America’s child, an unarmed child, just trying to get home on the night of February 26, 2012, just like so many other children who have become casualties of violence. Trayvon was high school aged on the road to improving in his grades and academics. He could have grown up to become a remarkably educated man of grace, character, and poise. Zimmerman, on the other hand, was armed that night and his entire adult life is infested with a documented history of aggression such as resisting arrest, domestic violence, and now murder. Zimmerman will always be remembered in history as the man who shed the blood of an innocent child.

Zimmerman’s acquittal doesn’t make him beyond reproach and certainly not a hero. The argument that Zimmerman feared for his life doesn’t hold up and here’s why. No person, especially a child, would fight an individual knowing they were armed, especially with a deadly weapon like a gun; Trayvon was certainly no exception. So Zimmerman’s argument that he feared for his life is paranoid and quite frankly irrational. What Zimmerman feared was Trayvon finding out he was armed because Zimmerman made it his intent to stalk the young man and didn’t expect to be stood up to (typical of the classic bully). Let’s face it, Zimmerman is a troubled adult and because he has now murdered, he is very well capable of doing it again the next time he feels paranoid or threatened. The Sanford, FL jury let a cold blooded, predatory, murderer go free.

Trayvon wasn’t committing a crime, no home invasion, no vandalism; he was walking home. In the 911 call, Trayvon clearly tried to get away from this stranger, this weirdo who made it his point to follow him. Remember in the call Zimmerman said, “Shit, he’s [Martin’s] running.” Zimmerman then confirmed to the operator he was following Trayvon. If it’s true that Zimmerman, by use of a deadly weapon, had the “right to defend himself” once the confrontation ensued, then all Americans need to arm themselves, including children, for fear of individuals like Zimmerman, right? There was no trace of Trayvon’s DNA on the grip of Zimmerman’s gun to prove that Trayvon was trying to take it from him in an effort to shoot. It wasn’t a crime for Trayvon to be walking home at night, no civil violation, no matter what he looked like, what he wore, or how he carried himself. Zimmerman should have acted like a responsible adult and left him alone.

So who are the real terrorists in our land? It’s not my fellow Muslims who wear hijabs; it’s those with last names like Zimmerman and Anthony, metaphorically speaking. So if you see a “Zimmerman” in your neighborhood and he starts asking you questions, be careful not to run away from him…he may just very well try to shoot you off delusional suspicion that you’re just up to no good and he’s the one in danger. And for everyone still giving Zimmerman the benefit of the doubt, had Trayvon been a black or white girl fighting for her life, would you still side with Zimmerman? Trust, there are young women out there who can kick ass in defense if some man starts questioning and following them in the dark. Meditate on that one.

The Two Elephants

So now post-ruling we have marchers, protesters, organizers, and advocates gathering and lobbying to usher change for two long standing issues. See there’s been two elephants standing in America’s living room for far too long. In this case they are the murder of our youth and racial profiling. As a nation we’d rather glamorize drinking, drugs, and gambling (symbolic of self servitude and fleshly desire) before we give to our inner cities, rural schools, and community programs. We would rather get glammed up, weaved up, Gucci’ed up, botoxed, and Rolexed out, buy the latest pair of high heel pumps or Nike sneaks, instead of donate to a scholarship fund. And it’s American citizens, not just law enforcement, who keep profiling each other for the amount of wealth or poverty, intellect or stupidity, whiteness or blackness that we appear to possess or have.

Americans have to stop supporting entertainment that glamorizes the violence of urban life as well. This contributes to the ongoing profiling of Americans. It’s not fair that black and white children who grow up poor are pigeon holed as Niggas and Crackas because of entertainers who get rich perpetuating images of pimping, dealing, and naked-women-lewdness as cool. See in our freedom to create “art and entertainment”, we’ve also failed to teach the right from wrong to both young and old. The abandonment and ill regard for our children and constant profiling of each other doesn’t breath life; it results in death.

Had someone taught George Zimmerman about these “Two Elephants”, or gotten him some serious counseling for his anger problems, he would have handled himself better throughout his life and on that night of February 26th. Our youth need some serious backup and it’s us, not gun toting vigilantes with emotional disorders. America doesn’t need anymore George Zimmermans who have problems with themselves and lack conflict resolution, who have ongoing histories of violence and believe the solution is to carry a gun. And to all of the people that helped contribute approximately $30,000 in weekly donations to Zimmerman for his trial, shame on you! You wasted your money on a murderer instead of invest in the life of a child.

Victim Blaming and Stand Your Ground

Marissa Alexander fires a warning shot against her abusive husband who was about to kill her and gets a 20 year sentence. Zimmerman kills an innocent child and goes free. America has a problem with victim blaming. We blame the victims if he/she gets raped. We blame the victim if they get robbed in the street. We blame the victim for looking too good and therefore deserving whatever they got in return. And juror B37 needs to sit down and shut up because her ignorance, “ignor[e]-ance”, sounds more like a person who is obsessed with prison love (the kind that says I’m going to date someone I’ve never met before that’s locked-up) and infatuated with serial killers. I’m glad the other 4 jurors, to paraphrase, said “Stay the hell away from us. You’re crazy!”

So we’re left with a looming question in the aftermath of all of this. Will we take a serious approach to protecting the youth of all our communities? Will we fight violence and get the little George Zimmermans in the making counseling before they shoot another child? Will we stop profiling each other and realize that in doing this we weaken our country instead of strengthen it? The dysfunction of American adults is killing our youth. So rest in peace, Trayvon Martin, a.k.a. American’s son. May in your death the inner consciousness of every American come to life that ensures all of our children will not be murdered in acts of violence disguised in the name of justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Blogroll

American Mothers Political Party
AMPP is a social movement seeking justice and accountability within the family court system which includes DHHS/CPS, psychologists and other so called experts.

Battered Mothers-A Human Rights Issue
I am a KANSAS Domestic Violence Survivor- still trying to survive- still trying to keep my daughter safe myself alive after 15 brutal years in a system that failed to protect in fact quite opposite they continue to profit by keeping my daughter and I in a

Imagine Publicity
is a strategic marketing, promotions and publicity firm that works directly with clients to enhance their online presence and successfully optimize their unique goals.

No Wedding No Womb
is a primary call directed to the black community to take action against the rampant births of children who are born without physcial, financial and emotional protection. It is a call for accountability for both MEN and WOMEN to be min

Time's Up!
is a collection of bloggers who are champions for victims of crime. Through this group we hope to bring awareness to the injustices to victims and to search out solutions with an SOS to those in the capacity to make changes happen.